2002 4.6l Screw with 96k miles, serviced 8k ago, plugs, air and fuel filter. Stopped to refuel the other day then truck wold not start. Cranked a few times and tried a jump since battery is/was 9 yrs old. Finally started and ran. Next time we stopped it retarted but ran rough. This morning it would not start, called dealer and they suggest trying new battery first since the wife mentions the gauges pegged a few times when starting a week or so ago. New battery and it still would'nt start. After 10-15 times trying to restart ii fires and off to the dealer. Since we are 350 miles from home he recommends driving without turning her off until we get home. Drive back to father in laws and wife turns off the truck for about ten minutes and she won't restart. So I tried old school and removed the air inlet hose so we cold squirt some fuel directly into the throttle body, and she fired right up. So we're home. it's sat for 20 minutes, fired up. I'll check in the morning but could the the PCM rebooted after the new battery or injectors / fuel pump? Just looking for ideas before I take it in to the mechanic on Monday. trying to avoid the stealorship if I can.

 

Bad gas?

 

Can't really tell ya what is exactly going on with this issue. I'm thinking that there is a possibility with the electronic choke could possibly be failing. You said you sprayed fuel into the throttle body, and it fired right up correct? If this occured than you chocked the engine yourself and allowed more fuel than air for a rich mixture. Just a thought, but it could be a lot of different things.

 

Check fuel pressure for leak down or low pressure. Does it smoke after a long crank start?

 

I thought it might be bad gas since it seemed to start right after refueling. Mobil gas but it ran OK after starting. Sat all night and started this morning.

Yes it started yesterday after adding fuel directly. Will run it this weekend to see if will repeat the problem since the dealership quoted $116 diagnostic and only if they could get the problem to repeat.

Thanks

 

The "choke" you speak of should be called the IAC motor, and they usually dont cause them to not start. They jsut cause a sticking hi idle or no hi idle at all. I'l look into the fuel pump or injectors being dirty. How old is the fuel filter? Sounds like a fuel delivery issue to me. I do know that my truck is finicky after the battery has been dis-connected. I just put a new one in last week and it took 2 days of driving before it started to run right and stopped dying at a stop. Look at that fuel system buddy...

 

Follow the suggestions by torkum, my money is on the fuel pump also.

 

Sea foam ftw ....get a bottle and run it threw the vacuum hose off the brake booster as well as in your gas. Check you tube if you need help on the how to.

 

Here in Windsor we are starting to get freezing temps at night. We have a mandated 5% alcohol in the gas and that should take care of any water but the lines can still freeze. Alcohol is hygroscopic so it attracts water. A combo of low fuel levels and cold temps causes condensation in the tank. On a long trip you put warm fuel from the unfrozen ground into an almost empty tank and you can get a problem with water in the gas. Then when you go to start it does funny things till the alcohol can absorb the extra water. Next morning everything is fine.

 

Had the filter changed today. Seems it may have been a bit clogged and may have iced over in Prescott. Anyhow since the battery change and we have been back in Calif it has been starting and running fine after the battery change. Keep my fingers crossed and let you know if anything changes. Thanks